The state capital, after over a month, reported 600 cases of infections. This, according to BMC, is a 10-12 per cent rise in cases.
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the civic body in Maharashtra’s capital Mumbai, has admitted that there has been a sharp rise in virus cases in the state and decided to keep its jumbo Covid-19 care centres open till March 31.
Additional municipal commissioner in-charge of the BMC’s public health department, Suresh Kakani, told India Today that there has indeed been a rise in cases over the last couple of days. “Seeing the rise we felt that if there is a further increase in numbers, then admitting people and treating them will be easier in the jumbo centres hence the call has been taken,” Mr Kakani said.
On Sunday, Maharashtra recorded 4,092 fresh cases of coronavirus infection, taking the tally to 20,64,278, while 40 fatalities pushed the death toll to 51,529, the health department stated. With 1,355 patients recovering from the infection on the day, the recovery count in the state grew to 19,75,603.
The state capital, after over a month, reported 600 cases of infections. This, according to BMC, is a 10-12 per cent rise in cases.
New lockdown restrictions may not be imposed again in Mumbai if people continued to cooperate with the authorities, Mr Kakani said. “If people cooperate with us then there would not be any need for fresh lockdown or restrictions. This is what I would say. But we have said from Day 1 that if the numbers rise with the resumption of local trains we will have to put in strict measures as well,” he stressed.
The BMC, in the light of surging cases, has started deploying mobile COVID-19 testing vans in some pockets of Dharavi fearing a possible resurgence in infections. A weekly growth rate of 0.12 percent is recorded in G North ward, which comprises Dharavi, Dadar, and Mahim.
A report by Times of India quoted officials as saying that some high-risk contacts were avoiding testing as they feared that the mandatory 14-day quarantine will lead to a loss of income.
The state last recorded 4,000-plus cases (4,382) on January 6 and the city recorded (607) daily cases on January 14, exactly a month ago.
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